Method of treating peat immediately prior to compression.



PATENTED MAR. 29, 1904-.v

w. A. MILNE." I METHOD OF TREATING FEAT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO COMPRESSION.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19. 19.0.3.

N0 MODEL.

m: Nonms PEYERS cc. movoumou WASHINGTON 0. c.

. UNITED STATE Patented March 29, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD QF TREATING PEAT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO COMPRESSION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 756,129, dated March 29, 1904.

Application filed May 19, 1903. Serial No. 157,826. (No specimens) To all whom it WI/LI/y concern:

'Be it known that I, WILLIAM ATKINSON MILNE,manufacturer, of the village of Browns Corners, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Peat Immediately Prior to Compressing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the method of treating peat immediately prior to compressing; and the object of the invention is to so treat the pulverized peat that it may be compressed more easily than at present and when compressed will retain its form without any liability of cracking or fracturing and will be of a maximum density or hardness; and it consists, essentially, in the various steps of the method hereinafter described.

In order to exemplify my method, I shall describe hereinafter an apparatus suitable for the purpose of carrying out the method.

The drawing represents a perspective view, mostly in section, showing my improved apparatus. I

A is the main drier for the pulverized peat, and B the hopper, located underneath the same and forming part of the conveyer-casing B, which is supported on an incline by any suitable support. The conveyer B is a double tubular conveyer, through which extends the endless belt C, to which the disk carriers 0 are attached. The conveyer isin the form of a rope and is supported at each end by the grooved Wheels D and E, such grooved wheels beingv provided with notches 6, into which the disks fit and by which the conveyer is given its motion. The upper tubular portion of the conveyer B is provided with a steam-jacket b, and the top of the conveyer is provided with a head D, having adischarge-spout D F is a hopper, preferably cylindrical in form and having a tapered lower end f and discharge-spouts f,.into the side of which is fitted a thermometer f whereby the temperature of the peat-passing through may be determined. The hopper F is provided with a steam-jacket F and a central tube F tapered at the bottom and supported within the hopper by suitable stays F is a perforated steam-pipe which extends down through the center of the tube F, being centrally held therein by stays f. The perforated tube F extends outwardly through the top of the hopper and is provided with a suitable valve f, as indicated.

The hopper F is supported by suitable standards or rods Gr above the compressor H, which is in the form of toothed wheels arranged as shown in my United States Patent No. 7 08,57 4:, dated the 9th day of September, 1902. Of course any suitable form of press or compressor may be used.

, Having now described the principal parts involved in my invention, I may state that it is essential in my method to keep the pulverized peat heated as it passes from the drier to the compressor, and the apparatus shown is designed to do this; and notonly this, but I also find it preferable to introduce moisture into the pulverized peat, either into the full stream of the peat or where there are two streams into the central stream thereof, and this immediately prior to compressing, so that the peat delivered to the compressor will be in a proper state for compressing. By this method I find that compression is ren- -dered more easy and the block formed is not liable to crack or fracture and is dense and hard. From tests I have found that blocks made under my method are of the same specific gravity as anthracite coal. In my method I find that the steam introduced into the central stream is distinctly advantageous, for the reason that when the peat is being compressed such steam, unlike air, has to get out and is condensed and has the eifect of making the core of the block more moist, and thereby making a block with a comparatively moist core and drier-shell and also enable me to run the machine much more quickly than verized peat through a heated zone and during such passage introducing moisture into the stream of pulverized peat and then compressing the peat, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The method of treating peat immediately prior to compressing consisting in passing the pulverized peat through a heated zone and during such passage introducing jets of steam into the stream of pulverized peat and then compressing the peat as and for purpose specified.

3. The method of treating peat immediately prior to compressing consisting in passing the pulverized peat through a heated zone, dividing such peat during the passage into an inner and encompassing outer stream, intoducing into the inner stream moisture and finally compressing the peat as and for the purpose specified.

\VILLIAM ATKINSON MILNE.

Witnesses:

B. BOYD,

M. MOLAREN. 

